North Korea Demands Nuclear Reactor From The US Before Disarming

[NNN0LHI]

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1141332

North Korea Says It Won't Dismantle Nuclear Weapons Program Until It Gets Light Water Reactor

SEOUL, South Korea Sep 19, 2005 — North Korea said Tuesday it would not dismantle its nuclear weapons program until the United States first provides an atomic energy reactor, casting doubt on its commitment to a breakthrough agreement reached at international arms talks.

The North had insisted since arms talks began last week in Beijing that it be given a light-water reactor, a type less easily diverted for weapons use, in exchange for abandoning nuclear weapons. The agreement reached at the talks' end Monday the first since the negotiations began in August 2003 says the six countries in the negotiations will discuss the reactor issue "at an appropriate time."

The surprise announcement came just a day after the North agreed to give up its arms efforts and accept inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency in exchange for energy, economic and security aid.

"We will return to the NPT and sign the safeguards agreement with the IAEA and comply with it immediately upon the U.S. provision of LWRs, a basis of confidence-building to us," the North's Foreign Ministry said in the statement, carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency.

[skids]

1. Oh, like the one that...

...Bush could have completed from Clinton's day as had been promised, rather than going back on the U.S.'s word and creating this whole mess to begin with?

heheh.